2000 Saturn LS: complaints, problems and recalls

1. CAR HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. COOLANT SYSTEM IS LEAKING. ESTIMATED $500 TO FIX IT. CAR IS 2.5 YRS OLD. 2. WHEN WINDSHIELD WASHER IS USED, IT SHORTS OUT AND WIPER SYSTEM STOPS WORKING COMPLETELY. DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT RECOMMENDS $400 WIPER MOTOR REPLACEMENT EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. I WENT THRU THREE FUSES IN ONE DAY. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS IT IS WINTER AND I LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND

Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000145 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE THEN HAD A JERKING MOVEMENT DUE TO THE TIRES CUPPING AND WEARING. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001711 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN CONSUMER PUSHES ON THE BRAKES THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT DEACTIVATE. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002423 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN CONSUMER WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES, THE TAIL LIGHTS WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, ALSO THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH GOT SO HOT THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TOUCH. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003676 at NHTSA ↗

THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005929 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON A CURVY ROAD, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. THIS WAS VERY DISCONCERTING DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR WAS IN A FAST LEFT HAND CURVE AT THE TIME BEGINNING TRANSITION TO A RIGHT CURVE. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING INPUT CAUSED AN UNCOMMANDED LANE CHANGE TO THE RIGHT LANE WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE THAT WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE JUST AFTER OUR REAR BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED FOR A LOOSE OR BROKEN POWER STEERING BELT. UPON FURTHER INSP…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007128 at NHTSA ↗

THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED DUE TO NOISE. AND REAR MIRROR VIEW MIRROR WAS REPLACED.*AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007277 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEAT SHIELD BETWEEN THE EXHAUST PIPE AND THE GAS TANK FELL OFF OF MY 2000 SATURN L-SERIES. IT APPEARS TO BE FROM GALVANIC CORROSION(METAL FASTENERS USED TO SECURE A ALUMINIM HEAT SHIELD).

Owner-reported narrative. 58,184 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007668 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-08-07 (August 7, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.2L L4 (L61) ENGINES, A FAILURE OF THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE MAY CAUSE DETERIORATION IN IDLE QUALITY, REDUCTION IN OVERALL ENGINE POWER, AND THE VEHICLE MAY BE HARD TO START. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AFTER SUCH AN IGNITION MODULE FAILURE WILL RESULT IN THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT FLASHING, AND MAY LEAD TO SECONDARY FAILURES OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, OXYGEN SENSOR, AND EXHAUST RESONATOR.

Consequence: FAILURE OF THE RESONATOR WILL CAUSE INCREASED EXHAUST NOISE. PROLONGED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING A RESONATOR FAILURE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL (1) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, (2) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND SPARK PLUGS, OR (3) REPLACE THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, SPARK PLUGS, AND UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE CALIBRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT 3.

Reported: 2005-06-02 (June 2, 2005)

ON CERTAIN SEDANS AND WAGONS, THE PLASTIC HOUSING IN THE REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY CAN BECOME DISTORTED IF THE BRAKE LAMPS REMAIN ON FOR AN EXTENDED TIME.

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE (1) AN INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE BRAKE/TAIL LAMP BULB OR (2) A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT OPENS A FUSE CAUSING INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS (INCLUDING THE CENTER HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP) OR TAIL LAMPS. A FOLLOWING DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, AND A REAR-END CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW TAIL LAMP REINFORCING SOCKET ADAPTERS AND SOCKETS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.

Reported: 1999-07-26 (July 26, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH AN INOPERATIVE VALVE WITHIN THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: IF A VEHICLE WITH AN INOPERATIVE VALVE WERE INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER, FUEL SPILLAGE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO ENSURE THAT THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE IS OPERATING AS INTENDED. THEY WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY.

Reported: 1999-07-26 (July 26, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM IN THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH ASSEMBLY, THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS MAY NOT WORK OR MAY WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE DRIVER USES THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER OR HAZARD WARNING SWITCH. IF THE VEHICLE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS ARE NOT FLASHING, THEN THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS MAY NOT BE FLASHING.

Consequence: OTHER DRIVERS MAY NOT BE ALERTED THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 1999-12-02 (December 2, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES IN THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN OVER PRESSURE RELIEF (OPR) VALVE THAT CAN BECOME STUCK OPEN IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. IF THE VEHICLE ROLLS OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE COULD OCCUR.

Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY SEAL THE OUTLET PORT OF THE OPR VALVE.